Widnes Vikings
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| Widnes Vikings | |
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| Full name | Widnes Vikings Rugby League Football Club... aka "the Chemics" |
| Emblem | Viking |
| Colours | Black and white |
| Founded | 1873 |
| Sport | Rugby league |
| League | National League One |
| Ground | Halton Stadium |
| Official website | www.widnesvikings.co.uk |
Widnes Vikings are a professional rugby league club based in Widnes (formerly part of Lancashire, now considered part of Cheshire). They play in the National League One.
Their traditional nickname is 'The Chemics' after the main industry in Widnes. They have a strong rivalry with Warrington Wolves and resisted the idea of merger with their rivals.
Before Super League they were one of the stronger teams in British rugby league but have generally struggled since then. Dubbed "Cup Kings" after going to Wembley nearly every year in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
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[edit] History
[edit] The early years
The club was formed in 1873, under the name of Farnworth & Appleton Cricket and Football Club. The name Widnes was adopted two years later. By the late 1870s the club was being referred to as 'The Chemicals' - later shortened to 'The Chemics'.
The first ground was on Albert Road behind what is now The Premier Wetherspoons pub and a short spell followed in the Simms Cross area. From around 1878-84 the club were based at the junction of Millfield/Peelhouse Lane, apart from season 1880/81 when they played on the Widnes Cricket Club ground at Lowerhouse Lane. From 1884-95 they rented a field at Lowerhouse Lane before moving to their third separate site on that road in 1895. The first ever game at what later became Naughton Park was against Liversedge on Saturday 12 October 1895.
In 1895, Widnes were founder members of the Northern Union which broke away from the Rugby Football Union. Their first game was an away fixture against Runcorn which they lost 15-4.
During the early years, the club often had to sell players to balance the books. The strength of junior rugby league in the area meant the club had a steady stream of new players to offset any losses.
In 1902, the Lancashire and Yorkshire leagues were combined to form a second division, Widnes was added to the first division.
The team's first ever success came when they won the Lancashire League trophy in the 1919-20 season. However, the twenties saw the club almost go to the wall. Local rivals Warrington donated their share of the traditional Easter and Christmas derby matches to keep Widnes afloat in 1927-8.
The Kingsway housing scheme threatened the loss of Widnes' ground. After several years of fund-raising during the great depression, £3,250 was raised to save the ground. This came with a stipulation that the ground could be sold only to the local council at the original price. The newly named Naughton Park was opened in 1932.
A major boost for the club was Widnes' first ever trip to the Challenge Cup final, staged at Wembley. Their opponents were St.Helens, Saints scored after 6 minutes to take a 3-0 lead, but Widnes hit back with a penalty try, a further try and a penalty to take a 10-3 half-time lead. A scoreless second half meant Widnes had won the cup.
Widnes became the first club to make two trips to Wembley, with a loss to Hunslet in the 1934 cup final.
In 1935-6, the team came close to being rugby league champions. Having finished third in the table, Widnes beat Liverpool 10-9 but lost to Hull, in the championship final. A third trip to Wembley came in 1937, with an 18-5 win over Keighley.
[edit] Post war
Tommy McCue led the club to its first ever Lancashire cup win, with a 7-3 victory against Wigan in 1945.
Back at Wembley in 1950, the team was beaten 19-0 by Warrington. During this period, the club reverted to selling its players to richer teams.
No team had ever played more games in reaching Wembley than Widnes in 1964. In the first round, two replays were necessary before beating Leigh. Liverpool were beaten in the second round, then Widnes played Swinton in front of 19,000 at Naughton Park. A 5-5 draw meant another replay, which was scoreless. A second replay was watched by 21,369 with Widnes winning 15-3. The semi-final against Castleford was drawn 7-7. 28,732 spectators watched the replay, which Widnes won. A Wembley crowd of 84,488 saw Widnes win the Challenge cup for the third time with a 14-5 victory.
The seventies saw the first really outstanding Widnes team. A host of young local players developed into the "Cup Kings", a golden age for the club. The first cup-final was a loss in the 1971-2 Lancashire Cup. The following two seasons, Widnes reached the finals of the BBC2 Floodlit trophy. The first success came in the 1975 Lancashire Cup which Widnes won by beating Salford that season. They also won the 1975 Challenge Cup final 14-7 versus Warrington at Wembley.
Widnes visited Wembley in the following two seasons, losing to St. Helens and then Leeds. However, this was made up for by victories in the Lancashire Cup and John Player Trophy. The season after this (1977-78) saw their first league championship. The team went through the season unbeaten at home in the league. There were also trips to the John Player and Premiership finals.
The 1978-79 season saw no less than four cups come to Widnes - the BBC2 floodlit trophy, Lancashire Cup, Premiership and a win at Wembley over Wakefield Trinity in front of a crowd of 93,218.
The 1979-80 season saw Widnes beat Bradford in the Premiership final, but come second to them in the league and John Player Trophy. The Lancashire cup was won for the fifth time in the seventies.
The eighties started with a Wembley win over Hull Kingston Rovers in 1980-81. The season after this, Widnes again returned to Wembley, to face Hull FC. Widnes led 14-6 with less than 20 minutes to go, but the game finished 14-14 and Hull won the replay 18-9 at Elland Road. Widnes kept their record of winning a cup every season by defeating Hull FC 23-8 in the Premiership final. The next season saw Hull again beaten by Widnes in the Premiership final.
The 1983-4 season saw appearances in the finals of the Lancashire Cup and John Player Trophy and another Wembley victory appearance 19-6 against Wigan.
[edit] Modern era
Doug Laughton returned to the club in January 1986 and began a series of signings of players from other league clubs and from rugby union. One such player was Martin Offiah, who in 1987-88 scored a club record 42 tries. The team went on to win the championship that season, clinching it with a 50 point win away over Hunslet. Widnes then beat St. Helens in the Premiership Final at Old Trafford, a game in which Alan Tait made his debut.
The 1988-89 season saw the club sign rugby union star Jonathan Davies from Llanelli. Wigan were beaten in the Charity Shield but had their revenge in the Regal Trophy Final. The Championship came down to the last game of the season, a capacity crowd at Naughton Park saw Widnes beat Wigan 32-18 to win the title for the second year running. The Premiership was won again, with over 40,000 at Old Trafford to see Widnes beat Hull 18-10
The 1989/90 season saw Widnes play at Anfield, beating Wigan 27-22. A trip to France to play Le Pontet saw Widnes chosen as the Northen Hemisphere representatives to meet Australia's Grand Final winners. Canberra took a 12-0 lead but were then swept aside as Widnes stormed home 30-18 to become the first official World club champions.
However, financial problems riddled the club in the early 1990s to balance the books, over 25 first team players were sold to other teams. This resulted in the club sinking to 12th in the division one table, avoiding relegation.
When the RFL announce that a new 12 team Superleague was to be formed a chaotic period ensued in which the club was out, then in, then out, then in merged with local rivals Warrington and then finally out again. Further player and coaching departures ensued and the club struggled in the new first division, the club's first ever finish in the relegation zone followed. They spent the next 5 years in the Northern Ford Premiership.
During this time, the playing arena was rebuilt and the old stands, terraces and facilities were demolished to be replaced with a state-of-the-art all seater stadium. This was also re-named from Naughton Park to the Halton Community Stadium.
In 1999 Widnes narrowly missed out on a place in the grand final. The 2000 season was one of transition with head coach Colin Whitfield being sacked and replaced by David Hulme being appointed as his successor. The Vikings finished off a poor season in 8th place in the NFP.
They were finally promoted to Superleague under coach Neil Kelly in 2001 beating Oldham Roughyeds 24-12 in the NFP Grand Final[1]. Their debut season in Super League was in 2002, Superleague VII, and the Vikings surprised everyone by narrowly missing out on a play-off place, and finishing 7th.
The following season saw them consolidate with a 9th place finish, but in 2004 they avoided relegation by the skin of their teeth, with Castleford's defeat to Wakefield on the final day of the season saving Widnes' fate. But they had no such luck in 2005, and with 2 teams being relegated in 2005, Widnes' job was made tougher, and they eventually went back down to the second tier of the English game.
Since relegation, Widnes parted company with coach Frank Endacott and the majority of their under-achieving Superleague squad. They have built a new team in preparation for the 2006 season in National League 1 under coach Steve McCormack, who led Whitehaven to two consecutive NL1 Grand Finals. The club have also pulled off a major coup in securing the services of Australian full back David Peachey, who kept his word to join the club, despite its relegation.
However Peachey was sacked just a few months into the season by Chairman Steven Vaughan. In order to make room under the salary cap for players such as Dennis Moran. Widnes recently put in a franchise application for the 2009 season and the result is yet to be announced but if it is successful the Widnes Vikings rugby club could be permanently in Super League (Europe).
[edit] Hall Of Fame
Mick Adams
Mick Burke
Keith Elwell
Fred Higgins
Jimmy Hoey
Arthur "Chick" Johnson
Vince Karalius
Tommy McCue
Harry Millington
Jim Mills
Frank Myler
Nat Silcock
[edit] Current Squad
2007 Squad (as of 21/11/06)
- David Allen - Second Row
- Bob Beswick - Loose forward
- Damien Blanch - Wing
- Mick Cassidy - Second Row
- Gavin Dodd - Centre
- Dayne Donoghue - Second row/Loose forward
- Lee Doran -
- Dean Gaskell - Wing
- Scott Grix -
- Jorden James - Second Row
- Andy Kain - Stand Off
- Andy Kirk -
- Toa Kohe-Love - Centre/Wing
- Mick Nanyn - Centre
- Paul Noone - Lock
- Gareth Price - Prop
- Mark Smith - Hooker
- Aaron Summers - Prop/Hooker
- Ryan Tandy - Prop
- Dennis Moran - Halfback/Stand Off
- Oliver Wilkes - Second Row
- Scott Yates - Fullback
[edit] Honours
- Championship: 1977-78, 1987-88, 1988-89 (3 times)
- Challenge Cup : 1929-30, 1936-37, 1963-64, 1974-75, 1978-79, 1980-81, 1983-84 (7 times)
- Premiership: 1979-80, 1981-82, 1982-83, 1987-88, 1988-89, 1989-90 (6 times)
- Lancashire Cup: 1945-46, 1973-74, 1974-75, 1975-76, 1977-78, 1978-79, 1990-91 (7 times)
- Lancashire League: 1919-20
- Regal Trophy: 1975-76, 1978-79, 1991-92 (3 times)
- World Club Challenge: 1989-90
- European Champions: 1989
- Charity Shield: 1988-89, 1989-90, 1990-91 (3 times)
- Northern Ford Premiership: 2001
- BBC2 Floodlit Trophy: 1977-78
[edit] Records
[edit] Player records
- Most tries in a match: 7 by Phil Cantillon vs York Wasps, 18 February 2001
- Most goals in a match: 14 by Mark Hewitt vs Oldham Roughyeds, 25 July 1999
- Most points in a match: 34 by Andy Currier vs Featherstone Rovers, 25 September 1988
- Most tries in a season: 58 by Martin Offiah, 1988-89
- Most goals in a season: 140 by Mick Burke, 1978-79
- Most points in a season: 342 by Jonathan Davies, 1990-91
- Most career tries: 234 by Mal Aspey, 1964-80
- Most career goals: 1083 by Ray Dutton 1966-78
- Most career points: 2195 by Ray Dutton 1966-78
- Most career appearances: 587+4 by Keith Elwell 1970-86
[edit] 100+ Tries
234 Mal Aspey 1964/65 - 1979/80 199 Eric Hughes [Centre] 1969/70 - 1983/84 181 Martin Offiah 1987/88 - 1990/91 161 David Hulme 1980/81 - 1996 & 2000 - 2001 151 Stuart Wright 1976/77 - 1986/87 144 Frank Myler 1955/56 - 1967/68 120 John Devereux 1989/90 - 1997 118 Andy Currier 1983/84 - 1992/93 & 1997 114 Phil Cantillon 1999 - 2003 111 Johnny Gaydon 1961/62 - 1971/72 110 William Thompson 1956/57 - 1964/65 108 Derek `Mick` George 1971/72 - 1981/82 107 Darren Wright 1985/86 - 1996 106 Tommy McCue 1931/32 - 1948/49 103 John Basnett 1981/82 - 1986/87 102 William Reid 1909/10 - 1926/27 101 Jimmy Hoey 1922/23 - 1934/35
[edit] 150+ Goals
1072 Ray Dutton 1965/66 - 1977/78 708 Mick Burke 1978/79 - 1986/87 434 Jonathan Davies 1988/89 - 1992/93 395 Jimmy Hoey 1922/23 - 1934/35 389 Robert Randall 1960/61 - 1964/65 383 Harry Dawson 1951/52 - 1962/63 243 John Myler 1976/77 - 1988/89 213 John Sale 1951/52 - 1957/58 209 Robin Whitfield 1961/62 - 1967/68 207 Arthur Pimblett 1957/58 - 1961/62 202 Mark Hewitt 1998 - 1999 201 Andy Currier 1983/84 - 1992/93 & 1997 195 Peter Topping 1927/28 - 1939/40 167 Colin Hutton 1945/46 - 1950/51 162 Harry Taylor 1908/09 - 1921/22
[edit] Team records
- Biggest victory: 90-6 vs York Wasps, 18 February 2001
- Worst defeat: 74-24 vs Bradford Bulls, 7 August 2005
- Highest attendance: 24,205 vs St Helens, 16 February 1961
[edit] Notable Former Players
- Tony Myler A member of the World Club Challenge winning squad whose career was blighted by injury. Winner of the Harry Sunderland award in 1983.
- Kurt Sorensen
- Jonathan Davies
- Mick Adams
- Andy Currier Tall pacy centre
- Martin Offiah Try-scoring phenomenon signed from Rosslyn Park RU. Sold to Wigan for a world record fee of £440k. Later played for the London Broncos and Salford
- Mick Burke
- David Hulme
- Paul Hulme
- Richie Eyers
- Andy Gregory
- Keith Elwell
- Emosi Koloto Nicknamed 'moose', powerful forward
- Stuart Wright Profilic try-scorer and a member of the 1979 Challenge Cup winning team
- Mal Aspey
- Ray Dutton
- Phil Cantillon
- Joe Grima Member of late eighties team who was able to break the line consistently
- Darren Wright Member of the 1989 World Club Challenge winning squad. Formed a partnership with Andy Currier inside him and Martin Offiah outside. Also a member of the 1993 Challenge Cup Final team
- Derek Pyke Member of the 1989 World Club Challenge winning team
- Phil Mckenzie Australian hooker
- Alan Tait
- Mike O'Neill Powerful forward with high yardage and tackle count
- Steve O'Neill
- John Basnett
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